Following the Bamako Forum and the Addis Ababa Forum, a process of consultations have taken place around Africa to find a way of effectively exposing the current social, political and economic injustices for better government and state action. A forum creates a platform for various interest groups of civil society to discuss issues together pertaining to social, political and economic justice. In addition, a forum increases solidarity in the sub-region and Africa as a whole before going to the global social forum, in this case in preparation for the next World Social Forum to be held in Africa in 2007.

The need to host a Southern African Social Forum (SASF) arose from the second African Social Forum held in Addis Ababa, 5-9 January 2003. Participants resolved to establish sub-regional forums as a way of getting diverse views on Africa’s socio-economic and political issues from a wider constituency prior to Africa Social Forum (ASF) and World Social Forum (WSF). Each sub -region was designated to form its own Steering Committee of at least five persons. Six persons that represented mass movements in their constituencies were selected as members of the Southern Africa Regional Steering Committee (SARSC).

Thus individuals and organizations that had previously attended the Africa and World Social Forums met in early May 2003 and founded the Zimbabwe Social Forum which then went on to plan, organize and mobilize social movements and organizations culminating in the holding of the first ever ZSF in Harare gardens from 9-11 October, 2003, under the theme "A People’s Forum on Peace, Reconstruction and Prosperity in Zimbabwe." As a result of the experiences gained during the ZSF, the Forum decided to take part and be part of the first ever Southern African Social Forum, held in Lusaka Zambia in 2003.

Key Components of The Southern African Social Forum

As African people with similar problems, the 2nd edition of the Southern African Social Forum [SASF] will provide space for advocacy for a better quality of life and development for all. The Forum will more specifically:

i) Provide the sub-region a platform for social activists to strengthen popular democracy and mobilization.

ii) Critically challenge the status quo of abject poverty, gender inequality and discrimination, high level corruption, social insecurity, unconstitutional governance, HIV & AIDS pandemic, etc.

iii) Build a sub regional solidarity network around issues of social, political and economical justice.

iv) Create a loose coalition that will guarantee effective participation in the future Southern African Social Forum [SASF], the African Social Forum [ASF] and the World Social Forum [WSF].

What are the Issues?

 The land issue and the future of agricultural based communities
 Emergence of Labour Solidarity and relationship with Social Movements
 Popular Democracy meeting people’s needs
 People to People solidarity in Southern Africa

Justification Of SASF 2005

Due to the modest success of the inaugural ZSF, a second edition of the ZSF was held in Harare under the banner, "A People’s Forum Against Poverty, Gender Inequalities and All Forms of Oppression". More than 1200 participants drawn from various social movements, community based organizations, trade unions, HIV and AIDS activists, gender and women’s rights organizations and the youths, among others were at this important gathering. Discussions and solidarity sharing and exploration of alternatives to the current pro-globalization Zimbabwean economy took place under the following thematic clusters:
 Gender Women’s Rights and Patriarchy, Youth, Labour, Debt and Trade,
 HIV and AIDS, Peace and Human Rights, Constitutionalism and Governance,
 Land and Environment, Food Security and Social Services Delivery.

The Forum rejected the unjust neo-liberal globalization and the integration of the Zimbabwean economy through NEPAD into a system in a manner that increases the poverty of the Zimbabwean majority. The HIV and AIDS thematic groups which had the biggest presence, recognized that the roots of fighting HIV and AIDS lay on a lack of social justice, and the acknowledgement that there was a vicious circle of HIV and AIDS and poverty, with both mutually reinforcing each other. The various entities at the ZSF ended up by concluding, "activists and social movements demand universal access to free treatment and the restructuring of the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the World Trade Organization, and the need to develop friendly policies such as debt cancellation, equal trade, sober and responsible standards of living for our people." Participants from the thematic group also called on the next ASF in Lusaka in 2004 to give due prominence to the HIV and AIDS issue since it is the greatest social phenomenon in Southern Africa currently.

The 2004 event remarkably made the ZSF a leading and formidable bloc in the global justice movement mobilizing under the slogan, "Another Zimbabwe is possible". The ZSF is now an annual event, preceded by a series of mobilization and build up activities, that it is taking its own shape in the spirit of the World Social Forum, based and focused on the need to be organized and be active with regard to the manifestations of local globalization in national processes. Of major importance over the past two years of its existence so far is the Forum’s ability to let those affected be able to share platforms in building solidarity based on real life experiences as told and shared first hand. Beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, the ZSF has managed to present itself as a real force to reckon with, as demonstrated by the heavy presence and effective participation of ZSF delegates in the Lusaka 2003 Southern Africa Social Forum and the African Social Forum 2004 at the same venue. For both events, the ZSF managed to have at least a bus full of participants. For both events, the ZSF managed to have at least a bus full of participants drawn from the activists and social movements partaking in the ZSF processes. The ZSF has been nominated and will host the Southern African Social Forum (SASF) 2005 in October this year. This in itself is a good opportunity for Zimbabwe to continue building solidarity beyond our borders as the struggle against poverty in its entirety continues.

The SASF Event 2005

The event will be modelled along the ASF and WSF approach. The workshops, seminars and conferences will take place along autonomous activities. The two aspects critical to the hosting of SASF in 2005 are:

a) Identification of the challenges confronting SADC region and building of a common vision.

b) The emergence and entrenchment of neo-liberal policies especially around NEPAD and the role of South Africa in African countries.

The collective seminars, workshops will focus on the following issues:
 The land issue and the future of agricultural based communities
 Emergence of Labour Solidarity and relationship with Social Movements
 Popular Democracy meeting people’s needs
 People to People solidarity in Southern Africa
 Festival of resistance
 Media and communication
 Fighting HIV & AIDS
 Search for Alternatives

Self-organized or autonomous activities

As usual, participating entities have the responsibility of organizing and defining the content of seminars, workshops and panels that fall under their responsibility. These activities will provide concerned organizations and movements with the possibility to express themselves thoroughly and facilitate a more systematic work on alternatives.

Expected Outcomes

The Southern African Social Forum [SASF] would be creative in order to achieve the envisaged progressive outcomes, such as:

i) A functional and operational Regional Steering Committee;

ii) Functional and operational Social Forums within Southern Africa;

iii) Collective and enhanced political pressure on politicians and all decision makers on behalf of the citizenry with regard to people centered policies on social and economic justice policies;

iv) A framework of alternative political positions emerging from the deliberations and discussions during the SASF for the various participating entities and social movements;

v) A permanent presence of a living "free" networking space to strengthen solidarity among the peoples of Southern Africa (at sub-regional and national level)

SASF Thematic Groupings by SASF secretariat Sunday October 09, 2005 at 05:56 AM

A comprehensive list of discussions to be held at the SASF clustered under themes

1. Poverty Eradication
 Impact of Internal Displacement on Poverty eradication in Africa (Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice) / Joseph Chilenga / Zambia
 The impact of internal displacement on MDGs and poverty eradication in Africa (Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice) / Florina Mukutu / Zambia
 Investing in young people to achieve the MDGs / Edford Mutuma / Zambia
 Youth Participation in MDGs / Chembo Simukanga Lentswe La Rona / Zambia
 Role of Cross Border Trader in achieving MDGs / Mr. Tawanda CBT / Zimbabwe
 Working out of poverty through informal economy / Mr. Tawanda CBT / Zimbabwe
 Role of the poor in monitoring the MDGs process / Mr. Tawanda CBT / Zimbabwe
 Revolutionaries and resistance: The future of the Anti-Capitalist Movement / ISO / Zimbabwe
 Combined and Uneven Development / Peter Alexander University of Johannesburg / South Africa
 Alternatives to Conventional Development Policies / Mr Maboo ABA / Zimbabwe
 Food soverereinity GMO / Tamani Nkono CISANET / Malawi
 Neo-liberalism promoting the gap between the rich and the poor and exploitation of the poor by the rich / Mr. Nanthulu / Malawi
 Promoting ethical solidarity (that is in the interest of the poor): / Louis Mafula / Malawi
 Critique of MDGs; Are they attainable by 2015 / Collins Action Aid / Malawi
 Malawi after PRSP - any benefits for the poor / Mavuto Bamusi MEJN / Malawi
 Education / CSQBE / Malawi
 The role of theatre for development / Kamoto Community Arts / Zambia
 Gender Perspectives on the MDGs / Pia Diaz GEO-ICAE / South Africa
 Zimbabwe Civil Society Shadow Report on MDGs / NANGO / Zimbabwe

2. Land Informal Settlement, Housing and Rural Movements
 From Monoculture and land monopolization to land dilapidation - The Mauritanian experience (Resistance and Alternatives) / Ian Harvey Jacob / Mauritius
 Land seminars in conjunction with other land organizations in the region / SCLC / South Africa
 To discuss on the constitution of the popular fund for the Right to land and housing / Cesare Ottolini / Senegal
 Are the human rights of Internally Displaced Persons (IPDs) attainable in Africa? A governance challenge or ignorance? / Florina Mukutu Africa Internally Displaced Persons Voice / Zambia
 To constitute a regional system of alert on the violations of the housing right / Cesare Ottolini / Senegal
 Murambatsvina combined rally / Mr. Tawanda CBT / Zimbabwe
 Agrarian Revolution in Africa / Thekiso Tshepo Umtapo / South Africa
 Building the housing rights: from the Zero Evictions to the Popular Fund for Land and Housing / Alessio Surian / Italy / David Mwaniki / Action Aid
 Operation Restore Order Impact / Meck Sibanda / Zimbabwe
 The Right to Housing - Secure Tenure / Barbra Kohlo / Housing People of Zimbabwe
 Housing Policy Framework - Post Operation Murambatsvina and Operation Garikayi / Barbra Kohlo / Housing People of Zimbabwe
 The land question in Zimbabwe and Southern Africa; Reform or Revolution / ISO / Zimbabwe
 Land for the landless / Civil Society Land Task Force / Malawi

3. Governance Constitutionalism and Democracy
 Corporate rights v/s people’s right and resistance in Mauritius (Resistance and Alternatives) / Ian Harvey Jacob / Mauritius
 MFPS development process / Valerio Leonardo / MPFS Mozambique (Movement of Mozambican Social Promotion Forum)
 Xenophobia and the need for regional solidarity / Nerisha / Khanya College
 Regionalism and Development / Jennifer Susan Chiriga / Alternative Information and Development Center (AIDC) / South Africa
 Democratization and elections, peace, conflict, war and global solidarity / Zambia Council for Social Development Chilala / Zambia
 Peace, Human Rights and Racism / Sello Mathosi / Umtapo Center / South Africa
 Democratization and Elections / Moses Mkandawire / Church and Society / Malawi
 Economic, social and cultural rights / Moses Mkandawire / Church and Society / Malawi
 Towards Adoption of Charter of Human Responsibilities / Moses Mkandawire / Church and Society / Malawi
 Decentralization and Local Governance / Louis Mafula / Malawi
 CSO and Spaces for Good Governance: Roles and Responsibilities of actors / Louis Mafula / Malawi
 Juntas and Life Presidents, Whiter Africa (public discussion) / Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe
 Corporate Governance in the NGO Sector / NANGO / Zimbabwe

4. Regional Integration, Trade Justice and the Neoliberal Agenda
 The impact of WTO rules on Agricultural commodity Trade (Cotton and sugar) and Southern Africa’s Development Trade agreements and their regulations / Bridget Mbambi Yembe / Organisation Development and Community Management Trust (ODCMT) / Zambia
 Public discussion on privatization in Southern Africa, with particular reference to Zimbabwe and South Africa / Trevor APF South Africa
 EPA Gaps in SADC and COMESA / Mr. Tawanda / CBT / Zimbabwe
 Impact of Privatization on the Public Sector / Alternative Information and Development Center (AIDC) / Jennifer Susan Chiriga / South Africa
 Nepad and South African multinational / Nerisha Khanya College
 Human Rights and constitutionalism / John Stewart ZHRF
 Women and Trade-Free, Trade Agreements Road to Hong Kong / Lebohang Pheko GENTA / South Africa
 Lusaka Tribunal Review / Mr. Tawanda / CBT / Zimbabwe
 Foreign Direct Investment / Thekiso Tshepo / Keep Left / South Africa
 Reparations / Masweneng Mabake / Keep Left / South Africa
 Road to Hong Kong: information Sharing and Strategies / SAPSN / ZIMCODD / SEATINI / MEJN / AIDC / MWENGO
 Economic and social development / Masweneng Mabake / Keep Left / South Africa
 People before profits: Day of Action Against Neo-liberalism / ISO / Zimbabwe
 Unity in Diversity, how can we make the movement stronger / ISO / Zimbabwe
 Corruption and Economic Justice / Mavuto Bamusi / MEJN Malawi
 Fair Trade in Southern Africa / Temwa Gondwe / MEJN / Malawi
 Debt and Aid / Temwa Gondwe / MEJN / Malawi
 Nepad and the Regional Ruling Agenda / Temwa Gondwe / MEJN / Malawi
 Exploitation of poor (tobacco) farmers by MNCs Temwa Gondwe / MEJN / Malawi
 Privatization / IPI and Malawi Watch
 South African Loan v/s Quite Diplomacy (public discussion) / Crisis Coalition Zimbabwe

5. Nature and Role of the African State and Imperialism
 Global capitalism and the erosion of people’s democratic right in Mauritius Resistance and Alternatives) / Ian Harvey Jacob / Mauritius
 The struggle to close the Diego Garcia US military base, peoples’ resistance in Mauritius and in the world (Resistance and Alternatives) / Ian Harvey Jacob / Mauritius
 Seminar on the Anti Terrorism Bill FXI Jane Duncan / South Africa
 Seminar on War and Imperialism AWC Makoma Lekalakala / South Africa
 To appraise the eviction situation in the region / Senegal / Cesare Ottolini
 History of Militarism in Africa / Sello Mathosi Umtapo / Center South Africa
 Pan Africanism in the era of Globalisation / Lebohang Pheko / GENTA / South Africa
 Prevention and eradication of violence /John Stewart / NOVASC
 Psychosocial impacts of internal displacement and conflict / Gwatirera Javangwe / Zimbabwe
 Effect of neo-liberalism and the role the monarch plays in support of this agenda / Dumezweni Dlamini / SCAPEI / Swaziland

6. Gender, Sexism, Feminism, Masculinity and the Marginalized Community
 Sexual Orientation in Africa / Fadzai Muparutsa / GALZ / Zimbabwe
 Redefining Masculinity in the era of HIV and AIDS / Padare
 Men masculinity and gender based violence / Padare / Zimbabwe
 Men’s health and reproductive rights / Padare / Zimbabwe
 Globalisation and masculinity / Padare / Zimbabwe
 Gender Nerisha / Khanya College / South Africa
 African feminism and social justice challenges / Salma Sahiba / Sisters Foundation / Tanzania
 The challenges for activists of virginity tests, briefcases and pulpits fundamentalism and women in Africa realities / Salma Sahiba / Sisters Foundation / Tanzania
 Gender and HIV/AIDS Christine Chikwanda / Rosemary Enviro-Green Care Association (Women for Change) / Zambia
 Gender and Development / Meck Sibanda / Zimbabwe
 Neo-liberalism classifying women: Challenges of Women Empowerment / NABW - Mary Malunga and Women’s Lobby / Malawi
 Engendering Budgets / Caroline Chikoore / Zimbabwe Women’s Resource Center Network

7. Youth
 Youth and HIV and AIDS / Godfrey Mungazi / Vision and Hope Foundation / Zimbabwe
 Mobilizing African youth change / Edford Mutuma / Zambia
 Youth and economic history / Sello Mathonsi / Umtapo Center / South Africa
 Right based approach for youth development / Chembo Simukanga Lentswe La Rona / Zambia
 Formation of Youth Socialist Forum / Tshepo Thekiso / Keep Left / South Africa
 Unemployment and education / Masweneng Mabake / Keep Left / South Africa
 Stigma and Discrimination - Youth Initiatives / Meck Sibanda / Zimbabwe
 People for Justice Tribunal / SST, ZYSAP and YWCA / Zimbabwe
 Struggle for Free, Quality Education / SST & ZINASU / Zimbabwe
 Zimbabwe, Building the Future we want / SST, Crisis Youth Committee and Bulawayo Agenda / Zimbabwe
 Struggle In three parts Harmony - A Revolutionary Music Show Case by the Ahoy Choir / SST & UZ Cadre Community

8. Labour
 How do we build a strong labour movement / Kerstin Andra Marobela / ISO / Botswana
 Farm workers / Nerisha Khanya College
 Decent work agenda / Mr. Tawanda / CBT / Zimbabwe
 New social movements, old trade unions, how far does neoliberalism divides the working class / Claire Ceruti / Keep Left / South Africa
 Workers’ Rights / Tshepo Thekiso / Keep Left / South Africa
 Neo-liberalism a threat to organized labour / Olivia Malawi / Congress of Trade Unions
 Labour Rights Environment in the Region / Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
 The Decent Work Agenda / Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
 Impact and Effects of the Right to Shelter in the Region / Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions

9. HIV/AIDS and the Right to Health
 Revitalizing and building National People’s Health Systems (presentation) / Godfrey Musuka / Zimbabwe
 Organizing People’s Power for Health (seminar) / Godfrey Musuka / Zimbabwe
 Ensuring Health Systems are adequately and fairly financed (seminar) / Godfrey Musuka / Zimbabwe
 Ensuring that health systems need adequate, available and motivated health workers (seminar/testimonies) / Godfrey Musuka / Zimbabwe
 Challenging trade liberalization and encroachment on health (presentation) / Godfrey Musuka / Zimbabwe
 Treatment literacy communication / Margeret Makonyore ZAHA Mutare Zimbabwe
 Greater Integration of HIV/AIDS and SRH / Edford Mutuma / Zambia
 HIV/AIDS Stigmatization / Christine Chikwanda / Rosemary Enviro-Green Care Association (Women for Change) / Zambia
 The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the Girl child / Betty Makoni / Girl child Network / Zimbabwe
 Youth participation methods in HIV/AIDS prevention / Chembo Simukanga Lentswe La Rona / Zambia
 Best practice: Matebeleland AIDS Council HIV and AIDS Mitigation, Prevention and Support / Thabani/Linda Anne Matebeleland AIDS Council (M.A.C) Zimbabwe
 HIV/AIDS and Patenting of ARVs / Action Aid Malawi
 HIV/AIDS as terrorism / Mrs. Chisemphere and UNAIDS / Malawi
 Inadequacy of home based care / Mrs. Chismphere and UNAIDS / Malawi
 Sustainability of access to ARVs after Global Fund / Mrs. Chismphere and UNAIDS / Malawi
 Discrimination in treatment of AIDS patients / Mrs. Chismphere and UNAIDS / Malawi
 Management of Resources on HIV/AIDs / Mrs. Chismphere and UNAIDS / Malawi

10. Media and Globalisation
 Reclaiming ZTV to be truly public broadcaster / SharonTapfumaneyi MISA / Zimbabwe
 How ethics assist in building a stronger journalistic community / Sharon Tapfumaneyi MISA / Zimbabwe
 Right to Information and Broadcasting Liberalization / Dumisani Gandhi Media Monitoring Project / Zimbabwe
 Opportunities for Campaigning for freedom of Expression: How do we Influence Enjoyment of Free Expression in Zimbabwe / Lloyd Pswarayi / Media Alliance of Zimbabwe

11. Alternatives and the Neoliberalism and Capitalism
 Alternatives to Capitalism why not try Socialism / ISO / Zimbabwe
 Revolutionary Pan Africanism / Malele Dodia / African Liberation Support Network ALISC / Zambia

12. Liberation Theology and Faith based Organizations
 Social Analysis for Pastoral Ministry / Zimbabwe National Pastors’ Conference

Zimbabwe Social Forum Youth Camp by Freedom Youth Council Sunday October 09, 2005 at 05:43 AM

A platform for youth activism at the Southern African Social Forum

Background

Young people are among the most affected by violence, unemployment, HIV/AIDS, discrimination, exclusion and restricted access to social services like health and education. The situation is even worse and dehumanizing for the young women and the girl child who are often excluded and discriminated against on the basis of gender. In many countries, young people because of their vulnerable economic position are often abused as tools for political violence.

With its foundations in the World Social Forum and the Intercontinental Youth Camp activities and resolutions, the Zimbabwe Social Forum Youth Camp presents a space and platform for local youth activists, organizations and movements to consolidate the local process of working towards social justice. The Youth Camp brings together youth activists and organizations that are committed to building people-centered development paradigms that are democratic, inclusive and sustainable.

In responding to this challenge there has been an identified need to build more broad and inclusive youth camps at the national level which are less resource intensive and can be strong platforms for local mobilization of the youth/students movements. The Youth Council, the Youth Camp’s organizing committee, has a diverse membership of powerful youth organizations which include the Zimbabwe National Students’ Union, the Zimbabwe Integrated Youth Survival Alternative Project, the Students’ Solidarity Trust, the Young Commercial Workers’ Union and the Students’ Christian Movement of Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Social Forum Youth Camp provides the possibility of consolidating this initial process and organizing towards the future editions of the Youth Camps at a Southern African, African and world level. This challenge becomes more exciting for African youth activists as they are going to host the WSF IYC in 2007 when the WSF comes to Africa.

Uhuru Youth Camp

The Uhuru Youth Camp is being organized as a youth/student initiative independent and parallel to the Southern Africa Social Forum that will be held in October from the 13th to the 15th in the Harare Gardens. This will be the third Youth Camp to be organized by the Youth Council of the Zimbabwe Social Forum following the successful youth camps of 2003 and 2004.

The Uhuru Youth Camp will bring together youth participants from the whole of Southern Africa with already confirmed participants from South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and Swaziland

The Youth Camp will be an important popular advocacy tool against poverty, exclusion, and all forms of violence and discrimination. It becomes a commitment by its participants to build a Southern Africa, an Africa and a world based on peace, solidarity, sharing, equity and popular democracy. In Zimbabwe in particular the Youth Camp provides a unique opportunity for responding to local issues such as bad governance, human rights abuses, privatization of essential services, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, violence and all forms of discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, class or race.

The identified themes for the Uhuru Youth Camp are:
 Labour
 HIV/AIDS
 Debt and Trade
 Constitutionalism and Governance
 Peace
 Land and Environment
 Food Security and Social Service Delivery
 Arts and Culture as tools for positive Social Change
 Education

The One Love Peace Concert

This seeks to promote and foster the culture of peace amongst young people through popular education tools of music, poetry, and dance. The concert will feature selected artists performing on the theme of peace.

Artists Workshop/ Teach In

A one day workshop/Teach In will be organized for the selected artists prior to the One Love Peace Concert where artists will be engaged on matters of peace building, conflict prevention and resolution. This will sharpen the artists’ message on peace so as to achieve the objectives of the concert.

The Concert

This will run from 6pm till late in the Harare Garden on 15/09/05 the last day of the SASF. Though championed by the youth, this will be the main event for the night for everyone at the SASF thus large numbers are expected to turn out.

Artists:
 Chiwoniso Maraire and the Vibe Culture
 Sounds of Edutainment
 Shuramurove Mbira Group
 Leonard Zhakata
 Ghetto Projects
 Comrade Fatso and Too Open